The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-10-19
THE YOUNG sToREKEEPER


A pale, pretty little widow, with large,
startled eyes and hair whose rnsset brown
gloss looked browner and brighter than
ever under the stiff, unsightly frill Of her
F conventional cap, Mrs Treyanian was the
: last person in the world that you would
deem able to do battle with the world in
her own behalf ami that Of her child.
And that the green gnass was month old
over her husbands grave, and the Grape
on her dress had lost It's first freshness,
Z she sal with folded hands and tears slow
( " eoursing over her cheeks, helpless as a
7 babe
I'm sure, Milly, l don't know what
on earth We are TO do" she said, very
feebly.
Milly Trevanian. q tall, wellgrCwn
I child Of thirteen. leaned on her mothers
lap and looked wistfuIly up into her
face.
Won't Aunt Ethelinda help Us al all,
mAmma?7
Mrs. Trevanian shook her head woe
fally.
No, she says. truly enough, / suppose
thst am only her half-sisser, and that
We were careless and extrayagant about
our property, or We never should have
come to want She has plenty Of advice
to bestow upon as, but nothing else, =
with curl Of her sorrowful lip
But. mamma, / thought Uncle Meri-
am owned bank and could have all the
money be wanted.
He Is very rich, my dear, but it is not
always the richest people who are the
most generous. We shall sisryc for all
the aid your Aunt Ethelinda viii render
Us
No, mamma said Courageous Milly,
We Will not starye III help you. rnanl-
ma, Wen earn living for our
selses.
My poor shorn lamb murInered the
widow, what can We doT
Wei keep store, mamma" said
Niilly just like old Mrs- Harvey does,
down in Gadden street well sell pins
and needles, and candies and ribbons,
and tin toys"
Child child, what do you know
about bookkeeping OR /, either. for that
matter
oh but mamma, Il don't require much
knowledge. Mrs. Harvey told me all
about IT, She'll lei Us hAyeenongh to be-
gin with. and mark ali the prices on the
under side Of the boxes, and when we've
made little We can buy new stock. /
know. mamma. And III stand behind
the counter myself and you shall sit in
the back parior. And know We shall
succeed Dear mamma. only let me
try.
Mrs. Treyanian was momentarily car
RED away by the courageous enthusiasm
Of her child. She could not say No " to
a scheme upon which she had 80 evident
ly set her heart
Il Was q Monday in the shiny, showery
month Of April, when first the shutters
were taken down from the mo lest little
bow window. which Milly's taste had
decorated to the best Of her ability. A
doll in blue sIangles and satin occupied
the center pane, glittering rows Of tiny
1oys were strung below. and cheap RIB
bons festooned above, while jars Of many
colored candies. pop corn balls, lace frills
and fancy SOAPS were arranged wherever
there Was spare corner or nook The
show case on the counter within Was
made as attractive a possible. and Miliy
had resorted to the time worn expedient
of piling empty boxes on the shelves be-
hind 10 give the casual inspector an
idea tina; their stock WAS nearly mex
haustible.
And mother and child sat in the back
room. listening. with ihrobbing hearts,
for the warning tinkle Of the dinner bell,
which Milly had suspended just above
the shop door
wonder If any one viii come 2 said
Miliy. earnestly. / wonder if We shall
sell anything to-day Mamma, dontyou
hope We shall g.
The woris were vet on Milly's lips 4
when the dinner bell began tinkling. /
announcing the arrival of a real, i've 4
customer. Milly jumped up and ran into ]
the shop.
What Will you have, sir p she cried, .
with sparkling eyes. and cheeks all in /
carmine-for, NJ the curbstone outside. 4
she saw an elegant open barouche gilt /
sering in the sunshine These were such /
customers a. never came To Mrs. Haryeys. 4
IN Gs2den street.
On the other side Of the counter Was
standing fine, porfly gentleman, with /
keen, light blue eyes. hair just beginning /
10 be threaded with gray, and such big
golden rope Of watch chain across bis I
breast that it seemed as if he must find |
il inconvenient TO carry If. He nodded /
good humorsssily to the small attendant /
Where's the shop wolnany' said /
ne
Please, SIR said Miily, smoothing
down her apron. I'm the shop girl
You7 Such mite Of thing as your" |
demanded Mr. Devereh, incre.iuiously
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